Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were—

⁠Flopsy,
⁠Mopsy,
⁠Cotton-tail,
and Peter.

They lived with their Mother in a sand-bank, underneath the root of a very big fir-tree.


"Now, my dears,' said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, "you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden.


"Your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.


"Now run along, and don't get into mischief. I am going out."


Then old Mrs. Rabbit took a basket and her umbrella, and went through the wood to the baker's....

It is said that the effect of eating too much lettuce is "soporific."
I have never felt sleepy after eating lettuces; but then I am not a rabbit.
They certainly had a very soporific effect upon the Flopsy Bunnies!


When Benjamin Bunny grew up, he married his Cousin Flopsy. They had a large family, and they were very improvident and cheerful.
I do not remember the separate names of their children; they were generally called the "Flopsy Bunnies."


As there was not always quite enough to eat,—Benjamin used to borrow cabbages from Flopsy's brother, Peter Rabbit, who kept a nursery...